Caption: Desmond Guinness Scholarship adjudicator, Dr Anna Moran presenting the Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2024 to Ben Casey at the Irish Georgian Society’s Christmas party in St. Patrick's Deanery.

Ben Casey is a second year PhD candidate at Maynooth University’s Department of History, where he is writing his thesis, ‘Picturing the professions: representations of the Irish professional classes, 1760-1830’ which examines how members of the professions were portrayed in visual sources and text. By examining how members of the professional class were portrayed - be it in portraiture, graphic satire or text, Ben’s research endeavours to reconstructs contemporary perceptions and attitudes towards this significant strata of Irish society.

Ben will use his Desmond Guinness Scholarship to support a five-day research trip to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) in Belfast in early spring 2025 and a five-day research trip to The National Archives, Kew, London in spring 2025.

In PRONI, Ben wishes to consult a collection of early-nineteenth century Irish and English satirical prints. In particular the Normanton Papers which include Agar’s correspondence with family and colleagues, some of which related to portraits commissioned by artists including George Romney (1734-1802) and George Dance (1741-1825). Additionally, the papers of John Foster, Baron Oriel and later Chancellor of the Exchequer (1740-1828) are also kept at PRONI. Foster’s correspondence with artists like Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) and William Beechy (1753-1839) is vital documentary evidence which Ben considers will provide valuable insights into the consumption patterns of notable Irish professionals at the time.

In Kew Ben wishes to consult the Chief Secretaryship, Ireland papers of Charles Abbot (1757–1829). This collection contains correspondence relating to Abbot’s patronage of John Comerford (1770-1832). Ben also wishes to examine the wills of specific Irish physicians like John Rutty, James Macartney and William Gray. Accessing these wills would give Ben an understanding of the material possessions within their respective estates. Likewise, by gaining access to the papers of the Dublin curate Rev Dr John Robert Scott, he would access his catalogues of books, engravings and paintings.

DESMOND GUINNESS SCHOLARSHIP RUNNER UP

Claire Ó Nualláin, who is currently studying for a PhD in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art, was the runner up of the Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2024. Claire’s PhD project considers the visual culture of antiquarianism, its influence on the fine arts, and its relationship with Protestant identity in late Eighteenth Century Ireland.

The DG Scholarship Assessors awarded Claire a contribution towards her research trip to Dublin where she intends to consult manuscript material at the National Library of Ireland and the Royal Irish Academy, namely the correspondence and notes of Gabriel Beranger, Edward Ledwich, Charles Vallancey and Charles O’Conor relating to Irish antiquities, 1779-92).

THANKS TO OUR DESMOND GUINNESS SCHOLARSHIP ASSESSORS

The Society welcomes the decision of the Desmond Guiness Scholarship adjudicators (Christine Casey, Kathleen James Chakraborty, Alison FitzGerald, David Fleming, Conor Lucey, Anna Moran and Primrose Wilson) and wishes to thank them for lending their expertise, which ensures that the scholarship continues to be held in high academic regard.

William McCleary, A view of the Four Courts, c.1809-1814. Reproduced courtesy of the British Museum.

Mary Anne Hunter, Portrait of George Cleghorn, c.1768. Reproduced courtesy of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

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In the run up to Christmas the IGS Bookshop will be open every weekend until the 23rd of December.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm

Sundays, 12pm-5pm

Monday 23rd December, closing at 3pm

To see our 2024 Christmas Gift Guide click here.

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The Hon. Desmond Guinness (1931-2020)

The Desmond Guinness Scholarship is awarded annually by the Irish Georgian Society to an applicant or applicants engaged in research on the visual arts and material culture of Ireland including the work of Irish architects, artists and craftsmen at home and abroad, 1600-1940. Preference will be given to work based on original documentary research. The Scholarship is intended for students who are currently enrolled for a postgraduate research degree either at MA/MPhil or PhD level. If you are at post-doctoral stage you should not apply for the Desmond Guinness Scholarship but can apply for the John Maiben Gilmartin Award which will be open for applications in October 2025.

The Scholarship does not have to be awarded in any one year, and the decision of the assessors, appointed by the Irish Georgian Society, is final. The total value of the scholarship fund available for distribution is in the region of €2,000. The award will be made before the end of December 2024.

*This Scholarship was closed to applicants on Monday 2nd December 2024*

If you have any further queries about the scholarship please contact:

Emmeline Henderson (emmeline.henderson@igs.ie) or by phoning 01 679 8675 and selecting extension number for Conservation Education.

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The winners of our 2024 Architectural Conservation & Original Drawing Awards were announced on Thursday the 10th of October at the City Assembly House.

Attendees enjoyed a wine reception, an exhibition of all applicants in the Knight of Glin room followed by speeches by John Devitt, Head of Sales & Marketing with Awards sponsors Ecclesiastical Ireland and Livia Hurley, Chair of the independent judging panel.

This year we received a record twenty applications for our Conservation Project category who were then shortlisted to nine finalists, and seven applications for our Original Drawing category.

The standard of work was extremely high and we were pleased to announce two joint winners for the Conservation Project category: Bank Buildings, Belfast by Hall Black Douglas Architects and McKee Barracks, Dublin by Taylor McCarney Architects. 14 Clarendon Street by Shaffrey Architects was highly commended, and two projects, Ardgillan Vinery by de Blacam and Meagher Architects and the Bungalow, Dromineer by Lotts Architecture and Urbanism, were commended.

In the Original Drawing category Ciaran Dolan was the overall winner for his drawing of the Lion Gate in Mote Park, Roscommon. Two further drawings received recognition as highly commended works the Tullamore Capriccio by Fergal MacCabe and the Scottish Provident Building by Alex Peacock.

We would like to thank this year's sponsors Ecclesiastical Ireland, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the IGS London chapter, as well as the judging panel and all who applied.

An exhibition of all applicants is open to the public until Saturday the 19th of October.

For more information on this year's awards click here.

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PICTURESQUE DESIGNED LANDSCAPES OF KERRY: Where Art embraces Nature

The Irish Georgian Society was delighted to partner with Kerry County Council and Cairde Choláiste Íde Teo to deliver the seminar, Picturesque Designed Landscapes of Kerry: where art embraces nature.

The seminar took place on Friday 27^th September at Coláiste Íde which is located in the historic Burnham House, originally the seat of the Lords Ventry, outside of Dingle.

An action of the Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Education Programme overseen by IGS Conservation Manager & Assistant Director, Emmeline Henderson, the seminar formed part of the vibrant Architecture Kerry Festival, which is directed by Kerry County Council’s dynamic Architectural Conservation Officer Victoria McCarthy, who co-convened the seminar.

The daylong seminar celebrated Kerry’s designed landscapes and gardens and explored their history and championed their conservation.

Fascinating presentations were delivered by Aaron Harty, Des Byrne; Dr Vandra Costello, Tom Dillon, Dr David Fleming, Victoria McCarthy, Dr Finola O’Kane and Terence Reeves-Smyth with Donough Cahill and Dr John Knightly chairing, and further contributions from Tony Bergin, President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, and welcome addresses from Seán Ó Catháin, Cathaoirleach of the Bord na Stiurthoirí and Councillor Breandán Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Kerry County Council.

Augmenting the presentations was a walking tour led by archaeologist Mícheál Ó Coileáin which outlined the significance of the historic gardens of Burham house, with an emphasis on the extraordinary collection of Ogham Stones located within the grounds.

Further enhancing the seminar on the day were two exhibitions: Natalie Deegan, of ARTlab Tralee curated an exhibition with the senior cycle Coláiste Íde art students showcasing the interpretation of their historic built environment; and Mary McCarthy, curated an exhibition, Postcards from the Edge: a pictorial history of Dingle Chorca Dhuibhne Architecture, Land, Sea and People.

The day was well attended with architects, conservationists, gardeners and landscape historians, as well as many enthusiasts present from both Kerry and beyond the county.

The Society wishes to thank all the speakers, in particular those who travelled substantial distances, as well as our hosts, Choláiste Íde (Ireland’s only Irish speaking girls’ boarding school) their Principal, Conall Ó Cruadhlaoich, their board, staff (Aoife and Siobhan) and students for their hospitality: go raibh maith agat.

Lastly, the Society wishes to acknowledge the supporters and funders: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Heritage Council, Kerry County Council, and Cairde Choláiste Íde Teo.

The Society trusts that the seminar will assist in generating an enhanced appreciation and understanding of Kerry’s extraordinary heritage of historic gardens and designed landscapes which in turn will translate into their considered management and conservation.

TOP IMAGE (right to left) Emmeline Henderson, IGS Assistant Director and Conservation Manager (co-convenor); Tom Dillon (speaker); Donough Cahill, IGS Executive Director (Chair); Dr Vandra Costello (speaker); Dr David Fleming (speaker); Terence Reeves Smyth (speaker); Victoria McCarthy (speaker and co-convenor); Dr Finola O’Kane (speaker); Des Byrne (speaker); Dr John Knightly (chair); Mary McCarthy (curator); and Mícheál Ó Coileáin (speaker
Image reproduced courtesy of Pauline Dennigan.

Opening Address: Councillor Breandán Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Kerry County Council.

Welcome Address from Seán Ó Catháin, Cathaoirleach of the Bord na Stiurthoirí

Tony Bergin, President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society explaining their annual young historian award established to encourage participants to research and write an essay on a local history topic in a personal, interesting and critical way with a specific focus on some of Kerry's lesser told stories.

Aaron Harty, winner of Young Historian of the Year (Junior Catagory 2023) delivering his talk 'Lassinagh House, The Spa, Tralee'

Des Byrne delivering his talk, NIAH inventory of historic gardens and designed landscapes of County Kerry

Victoria McCarthy deliver her talk 'Room with a View, the Designed Landscape of Coláiste Íde'

Dr David Fleming delivering his talk 'Nurserymen and landscape design in County Kerry'

Tom Dillon delivering his talk Exploring our roots: Heritage Trees of County Kerry

Dr Vandra Costello delivering her talk, 'The tourists’ experience of visiting the lakes and landscapes of Killarney in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries'

Terence Reeves-Smyth delivering his talk 'Big House Pastimes: Three Centuries of Sport in Irish Parks and Gardens'

Audience at Picturesque Designed Landscapes of Kerry: where art embraces nature seminar.

Mícheál Ó Coileáin speaking to the seminar attendees in the historic grounds of Burham House.

Victoria McCarthy explaining the landscape during the tour of the historic gardens of Burham house.

Mícheál Ó Coileáin explaining the significance of the Ogham stones located within the grounds of Burham house gardens.

Postcards from the Edge: a pictorial history of Dingle Chorca Dhuibhne Architecture, Land, Sea and People curated by Mary Raftery.

Picturesque Designed Landscapes of Kerry: where art embraces nature concludes with a picturesque double rainbow bidding us farewell from the Kingdom of Kerry.

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Irish Georgian Society Limerick Chapter

After an absence of almost four years, the Irish Georgian Society’s Limerick Chapter has announced it is resuming its activities, with the launch of its autumn-winter lecture series on the 1st of October with a lecture by Randal Hodkinson on ‘Limerick in old, unseen photographs’. Illustrating the changing streetscapes of the Georgian and medieval parts of the city, this lecture will interest everyone with an interest in Limerick’s history and architecture.

The IGS Limerick Chapter was established in 1996 by the late Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, who with others hoped to highlight the importance of Limerick’s Georgian heritage, then as now threatened by inappropriate development. The Chapter hosts an annual Knight of Glin Lecture to celebrate his achievements in Limerick and beyond, details of which will be announced in the coming months.

Randal Hodkinson’s lecture will take place at 8 pm in the historic LPYMA building on 97 O’Connell Street, Limerick. Entry is €5 at the door and is open to all.

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